No crosby? I'd personally have Dwyer in for Gidley, and give Gids the week off.

I think that's disrespecting Widnes a bit... we need the strongest team possible with some experience. Widnes will be wanting to right the wrongs after last weeks sec d half showing. The first half showed what they can do when they click.

So what is your team

I was referring to the comment after,about resting Gidley. Think he shoulda start at hooker with Smith rotating so he can interject in then halves a la Saints match

Certainly no disrespect to Widnes here. I'm of the opinion Gidley needs the odd week off here and there to get him through the season, he's played a lot of game time this year - certainly more than last year when TS suggested he needed to 'wrap him up in cotton wool'.

It's called squad management, after this we have a tough game vs the Pies at Magic, then effectively another Easter, playing Leeds away on the Friday then another tough one vs Salford a couple of days later on the Monday. The squad will need to be managed over that period.

Whilst we still could get to O/T. The CC is our best chance of silverware, so play the best squad we can with just a few rested. However give Hilly as much rest as possible. Wigan have got their usual CC bye so they will rest most of their team ready for us at Newcastle. Rest Gids for Wigan, when we should also have Daryl back.

Ratchford

Lineham
Atkins
Livett
Russell

Brown
Patton

Crosby
Smith
Sims
Hughes
Jullien
Cooper

Dywer
Philbin
Westwood
Hill (if we're winning then rest as much as poss)

Wigan really haven't got anybody to rest

It's Ratchford in at full back, Patton and Brown in the halves with Gidley at hooker

Guardian reported Livett is alongside Atkins in the centres, all 3 England lads will feature and It'll be our strongest side so my guess is it'll be:

Ratch

Lineham
Livett
Atkins
Russell

Brown
Patton

Hill
Gidley
Sims
Jullien
Hughes
Cooper

Dwyer
Crosby
Philbin
G. King

Widnes have just named the worst squad we have named whilst being in Super League: 5. Patrick Ah Van
24. Sam Brooks, 10. Jack Buchanan, 18. Greg Burke, 13. Hep Cahill, 23. Jay Chapelhow, 22. Ted Chapelhow, 15. Gil Dudson, 1. Rhys Hanbury, 33. Aaron Heremaia, 31. Jordan Johnstone, 20. Manase Manuokafoa, 6. Joe Mellor, 8. Eamon O’Carroll, 25. Tom Olbison, 38. Lloyd Roby, 4. Charly Runciman, 35. Danny Walker, 37. Liam Walsh.

We've named 1 winger. 1 centre.1 halfback. 2. kids hookers. 8 props. Woeful. Warrington by 60+

Age catching up, so I'd be resting him wherever possible. Widnes will be a walkover. I'd rather have him fresh as a daisy and bending Wigan players in half next week.

Challenge cup isn't our focus atm. Securing every point and forcing our way into 5th spot is if we have any hope of making the top 4. Our next 3 games are Wigan, Leeds and Salford. If we bag three wins then the season is realistically back on track.

They put in a good stint. Good for the second stringers.